I just can't seem to get enough of this city. I stopped in for a few early morning photos last week en route to Marysville, Kenton, etc.

 

The Clark County Courthouse

 

The courthouse was constructed between 1918 and 1924 on the foundation of an 1881 structure that was damage by fire.

 

Notice the 1881 stonework remains at the bottom of the new structure.

 

An odd collection of county buildings are connected to the rear of the courthouse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More comprehensive photo set from March: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=12278.0

I ate at the BW3s for lunch about 8 years ago when my dad and I spent the day in Springfield glad to see it still there.

 

Springfield reminds me a lot of Hamilton.  I love the old City building though.  Of course I'm a sucker for that style.

Springfield reminds me a lot of Hamilton. 

 

Perhaps. Springfield has better architecture; Hamilton is more intact and healthy.

Quite imposing!

 

I don't recall that I've ever been in downtown Springfield. It looks orderly and well-kept, with a fair number of impressive buildings.

I still say to this day, Springfield has the best architecture in Ohio per capita for a minor/major city.  I'm talking landscape and "regular" architecture.

Could be a great downtown, but looks very disjointed in its current state. The same could be said for one of the 3Cs, which I won't mention, aside from the fact that I live there.

You gotta love that Tecumseh Building.

Very nice photos.  Pretty comprehensive too. 

 

I've always liked Springfield.  But it always makes me sad to see the "good, bad and ugly" state their downtown is in.  Springfield is unfortunately one of these midwest industrial cities that hit their peak around 1900 and have been slowly declining ever since (i.e. Buffalo, Gary, Ind., Erie, Pa., etc.). 

 

Although its still has some good spots, you can clearly see the toll time has taken.  And Springfield has also tried over and over to jump start its downtown - hence the "odd collection of county buildings" etc. noted in the post. 

that garbage behind the grand courthouse is one of the more sickening mishmashes i have ever seen. ah well.

 

all in all you cant say that springfield isn't interesting.

Springfield is unfortunately one of these midwest industrial cities that hit their peak around 1900 and have been slowly declining ever since (i.e. Buffalo, Gary, Ind., Erie, Pa., etc.). 

 

Although its still has some good spots, you can clearly see the toll time has taken.  And Springfield has also tried over and over to jump start its downtown - hence the "odd collection of county buildings" etc. noted in the post. 

 

I think the peak for the cities you are talking about was a little later--maybe around 1930. Gary was not even established until 1906. I only think this point is worth making because many of our beat-down cities have exuberant hopeful-looking buildings that were still going up in the 20s.

 

I've never been to Springfield but have always been curious about it. In these pictures, Springfield shows a lot of urban-renewal damage, but it seems to have held onto more than many other places.

Not a bad little downtown at all.